2020/2021

DEMOCRACY
IN ATHENS (II)
HISTORY 9

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS

 1 The reforms of Cleisthenes

The Athenian democratic

2 republic

Today's topics
3 The Golden Age under Pericles

4 Problems of democracy

5 Greek criticism of democracy

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS

 Draco's constitution establishes rule
1 of law in an aristocratic society

Steps towards 2 Solon's constitution gives political

rights based on wealth

democracy
Peisistratus takes power in Athens
3 as a populist tyrant

Cleisthenes creates a territorial

RECAP 4 system of democracy

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS

1._CLEISTHENES' REFORMS
In 508, a statesman named Cleisthenes
introduced political reforms. He
created a territory-based political
system called the "phyle-system".

Athens was divided into 10 phylai (tribes):

- each was made up of a city (yellow), an
internal (green) and a seaside (red) region
- they elected their own strategos (commander)
- they sorted 50 people and sent them to serve
on the Boule

Cleisthenes reformed the Boule

- raised its membership to 500
people (10 pylai x 50 people)
- ran the daily affairs of the
city and prepared the agenda for
the Ekklesia
 OSTRACISM
It is said that it was Cleisthenes in 508 who
established the practice of ostracism.

If Athenians feared that someone could become

a tyrant, the Ekklesia could organize an
ostracism.

People wrote the name of the person they wanted

to banish from the city on a pot shard
(ostrakon). If one person got 6,000 votes (?),
he was banished from Athens for 10 years.
However, he could still keep all his properties.

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS

 DO YOU THINK
OSTRACISM IS A
GOOD PRACTICE?
THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS
2._A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
After Cleisthenes, every Athenian
citizen had political rights, if
- they were males
- they were 20+ years old
- they were Athenian-born

This meant that 'the state was run

by the many' (democracy). Athenian
citizens had the chance to vote in
the Ekklesia, to become archons, to
do jury duty or to be members of
the Boule.

The only elected office was that of

the commander (strategos), who were
elected by their phylai.

Members of the jury (heliaia) and

the Boule got a daily salary.
 DO YOU THINK THE RANK
OF STRATEGOS OR THE
ARCHON WAS MORE
IMPORTANT AT THE TIME?
STRATEGOS: 10 (1 for each phyle), elected, reelectable
ARCHON: 9 in Athens, chosen by lot, non-reelectable

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS

 3. THE GOLDEN AGE OF PERICLES
Athens enjoyed its heyday under Pericles, who
was an important figurehead of Athens between
460 and 429. He was re-elected as strategos
several times by his phyle.

Under Pericles, Athens became a flourishing

trade empire.
- it controlled sea trade in the Aegean Sea
- its allies paid a yearly "defense tax"
- discovered new silver deposits

Using Athens' growing treasury, Pericles patronized

arts and architecture:
- lots of theatre plays and festivals were held
- sculptor Phidias was paid to build statues and
temples

Most importantly, Pericles started paying for people

a daily salary to take part in the work of the
THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS Ekklesia.
 WHY WAS IT GOOD (OR
BAD) THAT PEOPLE COULD
GET MONEY FOR TAKING
PART IN THE EKKLESIA?

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS

 Our form of government does not enter into rivalry
with the institutions of others. Our government does
not copy our neighbors', but is an example to them.
It is true that we are called a democracy, for the
administration is in the hands of the many and not
of the few. But while there exists equal justice to
all and alike in their private disputes, the claim
of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen
is in any way distinguished, he is chosen to do
public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as
the reward of merit. Neither is poverty an obstacle
- as a man may benefit his country whatever [is his
financial] condition.
(Pericles' oration)

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS

 Now at the time of which I was speaking, as the
voters were inscribing their ostraka, it is said
that an [illiterate] and utterly unintelligent
fellow handed his ostrakon to Aristides, and asked
him to write Aristides on it. He, astonished, asked
the man what possible wrong Aristides had done him.
"None whatever," was the answer, "I don't even know
the fellow, but I am tired of hearing him everywhere
called 'The Just.' " On hearing this, Aristides made
no answer, but wrote his name on the ostrakon and
handed it back.
(Plutarch: The life of Aristides)

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS

4. THE PROBLEMS OF DEMOCRACY
REPRESENTATION
As only 20+ Athenian men could vote, this meant that only about
10% of the population of Attica decided on politics.

OSTRACISM AS A POLITICAL TOOL

Although it sounded like a great idea that could keep tyrants
away from Athens, ostracism was more often used as a tool to
take out political opponents using the people's votes.

RAMPANT POPULISM AND DEMAGOGUERY

As people voted directly (direct democracy), politicians
tried as much as they could to play with people's
feelings to get their votes.

SORTITION
Many times people without any political expertise
were chosen to become archons or Boule members.

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT HELLAS